Objectives of the service
Farmers and land managers increasingly need to monitor and report biodiversity to meet environmental subsidy requirements and supply chain expectations. Yet, no standardised, scalable, or affordable solution currently exists. HabiTracker addresses this gap by integrating satellite-based habitat mapping with bioacoustic monitoring to deliver meaningful, field-scale biodiversity insights.
The service provides habitat classification maps in line with reporting standards, tracks changes in habitat condition over time, and uses species-level acoustic data to quantify biodiversity uplift. A farmer-facing dashboard presents these insights alongside recommended land management actions tailored to habitat type and condition.
This KickStart activity aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility and practical value of the service. A prototype system will be developed and trialled at a calibration farm, using satellite data and recordings from acoustic sensors. In parallel, the project will engage farmer cooperative groups to explore farmer needs and assess commercial interest. Insights from this engagement will inform the development of a scalable, farmer-centric biodiversity monitoring platform.
Users and their needs
The primary users of HabiTracker are farmers and land managers across the UK, with an initial focus on Scotland. They are under increasing pressure to provide biodiversity data in order to receive public subsidies, comply with supply chain demands, secure support from financial institutions, and participate in nature markets. HabiTracker offers an efficient, easy-to-use solution to help them meet these requirements.
User needs include:
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A clear, standardised method for mapping habitats on farms in line with reporting standards.
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A standardised approach for monitoring and reporting biodiversity on farms.
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Tools that are easy to use and do not require specialised ecological knowledge.
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Evidence of biodiversity improvement to access outcome-based payments.
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Actionable, data-driven recommendations to enhance biodiversity on their land.
The key challenge is to provide a cost-effective, user-friendly solution that delivers reliable biodiversity insights while supporting compliance with environmental regulations. This activity aims to validate the technical and operational feasibility of the service in Scotland, with future plans to expand its reach to the wider UK market.
Service/ system concept
HabiTracker provides an automated, data-driven solution for biodiversity monitoring by combining satellite imagery and bioacoustic data. It uses high-resolution satellite data to create regulatory-compliant habitat maps and condition assessments. Based on these insights, HabiTracker offers tailored management recommendations to help farmers enhance biodiversity. The system also includes IoT-connected bioacoustic sensors that monitor bird and bat species through audio data, analysed by machine learning algorithms. This continuous monitoring helps farmers track biodiversity improvements, observe changes over time, and share verified data with stakeholders like regulatory bodies and funding agencies.
Key functionalities:
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Detailed habitat maps, produced periodically using high-resolution commercial satellite imagery, aligned with UK biodiversity standards and suitable for regulatory reporting.
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Monthly habitat condition monitoring using Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 data.
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Continuous data on bird/bat activity from on-farm bioacoustics sensors.
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Custom reports formatted for compliance with stakeholder requirements.
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Real-time dashboard access, with alerts, visual summaries, and practical recommendations for land management actions.
Space Added Value
HabiTracker leverages space assets, primarily multispectral satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from Sentinel-1, complemented by high-resolution commercial imagery, to provide accurate, up-to-date habitat maps and condition assessments. By combining these space assets with bioacoustic sensors, HabiTracker enables continuous, large-scale biodiversity monitoring without the need for manual data collection or specialised ecological expertise.
The use of satellite imagery allows for the efficient and scalable monitoring of entire farm landscapes, providing farmers with comprehensive, regulatory-compliant insights. Unlike traditional methods that rely on in-person surveys or localised monitoring, Earth Observation data enable a cost-effective, consistent approach, reducing the labour and time required for on-the-ground data collection. The integration of space-based data with bioacoustic monitoring also offers a unique advantage, enabling both habitat and species-level insights, which current competitors lack. This combination provides a more holistic, actionable view of biodiversity, enhancing farmers’ ability to track and improve ecological health while meeting regulatory requirements and reporting on the results.
Current Status
HabiTracker has reached key milestones, including the creation of a high-resolution habitat map for the calibration site farm and the deployment of bioacoustics sensors across diverse habitat types to monitor bird and bat activity. A demo dashboard has been produced for our test site that allows the farmers to visualise and export habitat data in line with the Scotland Whole Farm Plan habitat categories. User needs and market research are underway in collaboration with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), with a network of 24,000 farmers across 65 cooperatives. Structured interviews with three farming cooperative groups are scheduled for next month.
Prime Contractor(s)
